Why Did My Stock Just Die?

Your stock just took a nosedive -- but don't panic. First, let's see whether it had good reason to fall. Sometimes, panic-fueled drops can make excellent buying opportunities. Here's the latest crop of cratered stocks that could provide a possibility for profit:

Concerns over the country's economic health and the continued pullback in commodities caused stocks to tumble 100 points on Friday, or almost 1%, so stocks that went down by even larger percentages are pretty big deals.

The devil's in the detailsLast year New York courts issued a Solomon-like ruling in a three-way case that pitted the life settlement industry against investors and the insured. The court said an individual had a right to take out an insurance policy for whatever reason he wanted and the decision couldn't be second-guessed. The insured could also sell that policy to whomever he chose, so proceeds couldn't be blocked from being paid out to investors, and in the process, the life settlement business was validated. The Phoenix Companies (NYSE: PNX) , which insured the deceased, came out the loser because it said the plans were illegal and it shouldn't have to pay out anything.

The difference between life settlement policies and viaticals such as those sold by Life Partners Holdings and Imperial Holdings (NYSE: IFT) is really one of degrees. The difference between them is how long the insured person has to live: typically, if it's two years or less, it's considered a viatical; more than that and it's a life settlement.

Life Partners however is in trouble because the SEC questions the life expectancy it uses on its insured. The regulatory agency charges the viatical leader intentionally understates life expectancies to be able to show higher returns to potential clients as a means of increasing its sales. Life Partners and other viatical companies benefit when policyholders live longer than expected.

CAPS member DELMCC99 was hopeful before the latest news, because insiders, which hold about half the company's stock, haven't been selling shares.

This is a speculative play. There have been a lot of law firms circling the company like sharks after the price drop in the last quarter. I notice that the insiders are still holding so that shows confidence and the ratios look good.

Cracks in the foundationInvestors in Rambus got slammed when an appeals court ruled the tech licensing company shredded documents in its patent infringement cases against Micron (Nasdaq: MU) and Hynix Semiconductor. The long-running case has taken several turns over the years, but the latest development means that a $397 million settlement it had been expecting to receive won't be coming its way anytime soon. As Rambus makes most of its money from its patents, this is a serious blow to its viability.

Earlier this year CAPS All-Star russfischer1013 expected Rambus would come out on the short end of the stick, but the memory maker still enjoys broad CAPS support with 84% of those rating Rambus believing it would outperform the broad market averages. Add the stock to the Fool's free portfolio tracker to see whether a reassessment is going to be necessary.

Not taking flightAlthough NVIDIA's stock got hit Friday as well as concerns about its core chip business remain, the Rambus decision could help it in its own appeal. Last year the International Trade Commission ruled against NVIDIA saying it violated its patents. While each case involves unique patent concerns, the issue of Rambus shredding documents that would prove it misled the semiconductor industry's standards-setting group JEDEC have been part of the record for years.

Of more immediate concern is the impact competition from the likes of Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) and other mobile players will have on NIVIDIA's business even though it was able to post analyst-beating earnings results.

Windows 8 has been shown running on Tegra meaning you can compose a whole computer around [NVIDIA] and leave out AMD and Intel.

The mobile business has just really started taking off, that market will definitely expand going forward, and will get a boost in particular when they get Icera integrated.

And who says the Intel license agreement is a one time deal? [That] could easily continue until [Intel] buys them out.

Chip in your opinion on the NVIDIA CAPS page and let us know which is the bigger catalyst: its chip models or a Rambus redo?

Ready for a resurrectionJust because your stock has taken a beating doesn't mean it's going to roll over and die. Markets are known for overreacting. A closer look on Motley Fool CAPS at what's happened to your stock can give you an edge over other investors who just react to the market's lead. You can decide for yourself whether it's ready to come back from the dead.

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LPHI hasn't died yet...it has IMO a lot lower to go. The statement that, "Life Partners and other viatical companies benefit when policyholders live longer than expected" is incorrect. The shorter an insured lives, the more profit the funding souce earns. What LPI does (allegedly at this point) is purchase a policy at one LE, and immediately flip it to fractional investors at another much shorter LE determined by a doctor in Reno with no previous actuarial experience, and no other life expectancy clients.

I expect their sales (and dividend) will be at least 80% less going forward because their MLM-styled licensee sales franchise should now disclose the Wells letter, the State of Colorado fraud settlement, the stock fraud suits, the fiduciary lawsuit claiming the company effectively keeps two sets of books, the RICO suits, etc. to every prospective client! How many of prospective clients will now invest?

Uhh, PUHHLEEEZE - Rambus is NOT a memory maker. They are not even a fabless chip maker of any kind at all. Their only "product" is IP and of course they offer some consulting engineering assistance to make their IP work.

I suggest that you get the facts before you publish. READ THE CAFC. The case was not based on RMBS shredding docs. IT was when RMBS was on notice that they may have to sue to protect their patents. One Fed judge said 1998, another shopped by MIcron said 1995 when RMBS was on JEDEC and should reasonably assume that they would have to sue to protect. The industry standards had not been adopted in 1995. NO HARM. Rmbs released more than 1 Mill. docs from 1998 to show intent.The Delaware Ct. failed to show harm since standards were not adopted. The CAFC said OK, we will go with 1995, but, RMBS patents are valid, enforceable, and, infringed (from previous Hynix case).

Please dig for the truth. It is evident. The USJD imposed the highest fines to date ($750 mill.) , and, sent executives to jail for trying to price fix prices harming INTC, and, RMBS. RMBS is able to use all of that data and evidence in the civil antitrust case starting June 7 before a jury , not just litigants. In my opinion, this is the classic David vs the world. Some very important issues are at stake. With the US caving on manufacturing, and now services, IP is a key to remain the worlds #1 economy. The mindset across the ocean is that ideas are in the air and should be free. Further, some companies across the waters would rather fight to be right, than win. MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND, BUT GET THE FACTS BEFORE YOU PUBLISH. Dig deep. It will be well worth your effort because you may uncover a story that will not only facinate you, it will hold you spellbound as you uncover the fabric of how American engineering, technological, and enterprise endevor, is arroded with more than 10 years of litigation where no one wins.